A stiff, circular collar that stands up around the neck, popular in 16th and 17th century fashion.
From Dutch 'ruf' or 'raf' meaning 'rough' or 'coarse,' referring to the rough, pleated texture of the collar. Later standardized as an English fashion term.
Ruffs were so extreme and popular that they required starch made from rice, bones, and sometimes even animal urine to keep them stiff—fashion in the Renaissance was literally disgusting! They were also status symbols because only wealthy people could afford the fabric and the servants needed to maintain them.
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